Cajun music and Zydeco have long flourished as family affairs. Dynasties such as Chenier, Balfa, Ardoin, Savoy and Delafose come quickly to mind – and so does the Rubin family. The late accordionist Alton Rubin (1932 - 1993), better known as Rockin’ Dopsie, fathered four sons who proudly celebrate his Zydeco legacy today. Three of them – David (a.k.a. Dopsie Junior) Anthony, and Tiger – lead the band that now bears the Rockin’ Dopsie name. And Dopsie’s son Dwayne fronts his own group, the aptly named Zydeco Hellraisers, who unleash a supercharged style that is simultaneously traditional, contemporary, and futuristic.

With Up In Flames, his fifth album, Dwayne Dopsie emerges at age thirty as an accomplished and important young Zydeco bandleader. His deft accompanists, guitarist Shelton Sonnier and saxophonist Carl Landry, are similarly daring yet equally well-grounded soloists. The band’s fierce groove is further insured by the powerful three-man rhythm section of bassist Dion Pierre, frottoir player Alex MacDonald, and drummer Calvin Sam.

“I’ve been playing since I was four,” Dwayne recalls, “and I learned by watching my dad. Zydeco is soulful music, it’s old music that you can’t teach someone or learn from a book. I’m glad that I stuck with, and I’ll tell you what – I think my dad would be very proud.”